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UK says Manchester bomber was known to intelligence services

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 1:31 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 24 May 2017 5:54 PM ]

British Home Secretary Amber Rudd

British Home Secretary Amber Rudd says the man who allegedly carried out the deadly terrorist attack in Manchester was known to intelligence services and he did not act alone.

In an interview with BBC Radio Wednesday, Rudd said more information is being gathered about 22-year-old Salman Abedi.

She said 3,800 soldiers will be deployed across Britain to step up security amid fears of a wider plot.

"We do know he [Abedi] was known up to a point to the intelligence services. I’m sure we’ll get more information about him over the next few days."

At least 22 people lost their lives when Abedi allegedly detonated his explosives at a concert hall in Manchester on Monday.

British medical sources have raised the number of injuries to 119. Twenty of those with traumatic injuries are still in critical condition.

British police have arrested three more suspects in connection to the deadly terror attack. The latest arrests bring to four the number of people taken into custody over the bombing since Tuesday.

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Rudd also told the BBC that the US had leaked details of the bombing’s investigation, slamming the move as “irritating.”

"So it is irritating when it gets released from other sources and I have been very clear with our friends that that should not happen again."

The initial death tolls, the fact the attack appeared to be a suicide bombing, and the name of the attacker, were all released through US news organizations, evidently leaked by US intelligence sources.

Asked whether the US conduct had compromised the investigation into the Manchester Arena attack, she said: "I wouldn’t go that far but I can say they are perfectly clear about the situation and that it shouldn’t happen again."

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